Camera and Lighting Ideas

   Camera

v     When introducing the place where the film is set, we will use an establishing shot. Most supernatural horror trailers do this at the start of their trailer to help set the scene.

v     Medium long shots will be used to help introduce the characters and their appearances. Possibly to also show which of the characters has more authority over the other.

v     Many close-up shots will be used and zoom-ins that become close-ups. These will either be of the characters’ face to help show their emotions and reactions; or to add more significance to certain items or characters in the plot of the story.

v     Over the shoulder shots will be used at certain points that might also be combined with a tracking shot. This will create the impression as if someone if looking over the character’s shoulder and watching their every move, whist the character is oblivious. It could also make the audience think that they are the ones following the character which creates empathy between the character and the audience.

v     Some shots that may be reflected in a mirror and it’s what is in the reflection that the audience are ment to focus on. So whist the shot may be a mid-long shot, the reflection will change the shot to a long shot.

v     Two shots will be used when characters are interacting or if there is some sort of connection between them.

v     During the fast paced montage, shot reverse shots will be used to create a parallel between the actions of the past older sister and the present older sister.

Lighting

v     Seeing as some of the scenes need to be shot at night, we only have control of the lighting to a point, especially when shooting outside.

v     When Alice enters the attic, the only source of light is the ambient light from the downstairs hallway. The attic is has no light so it looks as if Alice is entering a dark and dangerous place.

v     In the scene where the spirit is seen in the mirror, the main character will have ambient lighting, but the spirit will be covered in shadows, with only some soft lighting to make it easier to see some of her features, but not clearly enough to make her out perfectly. This will look as if wherever she is, she brings darkens with her. This is repeated when she is seen through the window.

v     When filming outside, we will predominantly be relying on natural lighting and avoiding using night vision, because it tends to make the footage too bright. Instead, we will work with the light we have and make it darker in editing if need be.